Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a South African politician who served as president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and a leader of the anti-apartheid movement in the 1940s. Before becoming the first black president of South Africa he was jailed for 27 years between 1962 and 1990. His birthday, July 18, has been declared Mandela Day and he won the Novel Peace Prize in 1993 for the symbol of global peacemaking.

Mandela Early Life:

Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in Transkei, South Africa. His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a local chief and Councillor to the monarch, but he lost his jobs over a dispute with the local colonial magistrate. He attended Methodist schools when he was about seven then Mandela attended a Wesleyan mission school and Clarkebury Boarding Institute. Nelson completed his junior Certificate in only two years, in its place of the usual three. He received Bachelor Arts from Fort Hare University and he also received Bachelor of Laws from the University of London.

Mandela Career:

Mandela went on to serve 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island for removing apartheid from South Africa. Mandela along with his fellow lawyer Oliver Tambo set up a law firm Mandela and Tambo, providing free or low-cost legal counsel for many blacks. Nelson Mandela became a leader of ANC in 1961 and he started sabotage campaigns against the government as well as plans for a guerrilla war if the present authority failed to end apartheid. Nelson Mandela was released from jail on 11 December 1990 after remaining 27 years in prison which event was live broadcast all over the world. He received Bachelors of Law degree from the University of London by correspondence through its External Programme while he was in Jail. After release from jail, Mandela returned to the leadership of ANC and lead the party between 1990 and 19994 as well as he was the coordinator of the country first multi-racial elections. In this election, ANC won and Mandela became the first black president in the history of Africa.

Mandela Personal Life:

Nelson Mandela got married to Evelyn Ntoko Mase, the couple first met with one another in Johannesburg but after 13 years they broke up their relationship in 1957 for political reason. After first divorce Mandela married for the second time a black social worker, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela they also first met in Johannesburg but in 1996 and they also divorced for political strife. In 1998, on his 80th birthday, Mandela remarried a widow woman, Graça Machel.